Management interventions for enhancing agricultural production by improving water use efficiency

Abstract

Traditional ways to increase yield by extending the area under cultivation, using high intensity of external inputs and breeding for yield potential in high input agro-ecosystems offer limited possibilities under limiting resource availability. Improved agricultural systems should ensure high yields via an efficient and sustainable use of natural resources such as water. The most management measures contribute to better water use efficiency by improving water availability to the crop while reducing unproductive water losses. The main effect of crop, soil and irrigation management is an increase of the transpiration component in relation to runoff, soil evaporation and drainage. Also the effect of deficit irrigation methods is achieved partially by reducing stomatal conductance that results in higher transpiration efficiency. Redistribution of water from soil evaporation to plant transpiration is the key for better water use efficiency.